By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Washington DigestThe Washington Digest
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Contact
  • Submit a News Release
Reading: Did you solve it? Do you have the mind of an engineer?
Share
Notification Show More
Latest News
Spend with Ukraine: Supporting a War-torn Economy
February 6, 2023
A Look Back at January 24th in Tennessee’s History
January 24, 2023
Explore Washington’s Top 10 Entertainment Destinations
January 19, 2023
Exploring the Controversy Surrounding Pharmaceutical Marketing Agencies in Washington’s Healthcare Industry
January 4, 2023
The Role of Big Data in Modern Public Relations: How PR Professionals are Leveraging Data to Improve Outcomes
January 2, 2023
Aa
Aa
The Washington DigestThe Washington Digest
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Contact
  • Submit a News Release
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Contact
  • Submit a News Release
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Home
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
The Washington Digest > Education > Did you solve it? Do you have the mind of an engineer?
Education

Did you solve it? Do you have the mind of an engineer?

Beverly Clements
Beverly Clements August 9, 2022
Updated 2022/08/09 at 2:43 AM
Share
SHARE

Earlier today I set you five ‘reverse engineering’ picture puzzles, in which I presented pictures of five structures and asked you to explain why they were built in that way. Below are the questions and the correct answers, but please do scroll below the line in the original article because some of the comedy wrong answers are very funny. Feel free to add to the tally at the bottom of this article too.

1. Baffling bridge.

bridge puzzle

The Macclesfield canal opened in 1831 and it features several ‘snake bridges’, or ‘roving bridges’, where the towpath goes from one side to the other in a loop, like the one illustrated above (and photographed here.) Why were they built like this? Think about what the canals were originally built for, and look for clues in the picture.

Answer: The bridge allows horses pulling barges to change sides of the river (when the towpath changes sides) without disconnecting the tow-rope. If a horse pulling a barge went over a normal bridge to swap sides, the rope would go over the bridge, meaning that in order to get the barge to pass through, the person in charge would have to disconnect the tow-rope, push the barge under the bridge, and then reconnect on the other side.

2. Loopy trains

train track puzzle

In some places in the world train tracks make a giant loop and then pass under themselves. Why?

Answer: In order to gain altitude while keeping a low gradient, such as in Tehachapi railway loop pictured above. Trains are heavy and cannot move up steep inclines.

3. Puzzling Polynesians

catamaran puzzle

Why did Polynesian boatbuilders make canoes that looked like the one above?

Answer: The support float, or outrigger, gives the boat more balance and lessens the chance of it being capsized in the wind, or in big waves. Indeed, the increased stability of this design means that the hulls can be narrower, longer and more hydrodynamic, and therefore much faster than other types of canoes.

4. Tricky trams

tram

Why are the tram’s overhead cables positioned to make a zigzag, rather than straight line?

Answer: The metal structure on the roof of the tram, the pantograph, rubs against the cable as the tram moves forward. If the cable was in a straight line, it would rub the same point on the pantograph, which would begin to fray. But if the cable is in a zigzag, the rubbing happens evenly across the top of the pantograph, and the pantograph wears down less quickly.

5. Perplexing pipes

Pipes

In Russian cities, most central heating is provided by pipes that have hot water or steam pumped through them from heating plants a distance away. Why do these pipes sometimes have unusual bends in them, like the one above?

Answer: The bends are there to deal with the problem of expanding metal. When hot water goes through the pipes, the metal expands and the pipes increase in length. The bends provide some slack, absorbing the extra length, and thus allowing the pipes to expand without buckling or breaking.

Thanks to Nikolai Andreev for suggesting today’s puzzles, which are taken from Kvantik, a Russian magazine about maths and physics aimed at primary school children.

I hope you enjoyed today’s puzzles. I’ll be back in two weeks.

I set a puzzle here every two weeks on a Monday. I’m always on the look-out for great puzzles. If you would like to suggest one, email me.

I’m the author of several books of maths and puzzles, and also the co-author with Ben Lyttleton of the children’s book series Football School. The latest in the Football School series is The Greatest Ever Quiz Book, out now!

I give school talks about maths and puzzles (online and in person). If your school is interested please get in touch.

READ NEWS SOURCE

The post Did you solve it? Do you have the mind of an engineer? appeared first on thewashingtondigest.com.

You Might Also Like

Mother demands Texas education board ban teaching about Gandhi as part of CRT crackdown

‘Campaigning to keep the lights on’: the desperate plight of England’s schools and universities

10 schools and educational resources to boost your child’s learning

GCSEs: Fears students may be forced to drop full-time education to get work amid cost of living crisis

Voices: My A-level results day was marred by rejection – yours doesn’t have to be

Beverly Clements August 9, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook TwitterEmail Print
Previous Article ‘I feel I’m moving backwards’: new UK graduates hit by cost of living crisis
Next Article Biden administration planning to extend Covid emergency declaration
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Spend with Ukraine: Supporting a War-torn Economy
Business
A Look Back at January 24th in Tennessee’s History
Lifestyle
Explore Washington’s Top 10 Entertainment Destinations
Entertainment
Exploring the Controversy Surrounding Pharmaceutical Marketing Agencies in Washington’s Healthcare Industry
Health

You Might Also Like

Education

Mother demands Texas education board ban teaching about Gandhi as part of CRT crackdown

September 1, 2022
Education

‘Campaigning to keep the lights on’: the desperate plight of England’s schools and universities

September 1, 2022
Education

10 schools and educational resources to boost your child’s learning

September 1, 2022
Education

GCSEs: Fears students may be forced to drop full-time education to get work amid cost of living crisis

August 29, 2022
//

In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.

Contact Us

If you have any questions please contact us by email:

ask@thewashingtondigest.com

© 2022 thewashingtondigest.com. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?